According to SafeWise, which tests and review home safety products and home security companies, the Garden State has the highest number of safest cities out of the top 100 in the United States, with 30 cities making the rankings.(Photo: ~File photo)

New Jersey might be infamously known for high taxes and congested highways, but our underdog of a state has some new bragging rights thanks to a study released earlier this month.

According to SafeWise, which tests and reviews home safety products and home security companies, the Garden State has more safe cities of the top 100 in the United States than any state, with 30 on the list.

SafeWise created the report by analyzing FBI crime report statistics and population data for 2017, which was the most recent year data was available. It excluded towns with populations below 2,500. To see the entire report, visit safewise.com/safest-cities-america/.

In general, according to SafeWise, the Northeast is the safest region to reside in — 70 percent of the safest cities in the country are here. Connecticut registered the second most safest cities with 14; Pennsylvania was third with 10; and New York was fourth with eight.

So, which towns in Hunterdon, Middlesex Somerset and Union counties made the cut? Here's what the data tells us.

Trails near Lord Stirling Stable in the Basking Ridge section of Bernards.(Photo: ~Courtesy of Somerset County Park Commission)

5. Bernards

With a population of 27,219, violent crime rate of .037 per 1,000 people and property crime rate of 4.298 per 1,000, Bernards ranked the fifth safest city in the United States — and the safest municipality in New Jersey.

It doesn't come without some serious dollars behind it. The 24-square-mile township, which is roughly bounded by the Second Watchung Mountain, the Dead River swamp, the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, the Passaic River and Millington Gorge, has a median income of $137,855.

Monroe Township is home to several age-restricted communities, including the Four Seasons at Monroe.(Photo: ~Courtesy of CAHN Communications)

12. Monroe

Even with a population of 45,722, which is higher than the preceding safest municipalities on the list, Monroe clocks in 12th, with a violent crime rate of .087 per 1,000 and property crime rate of 3.346 per 1,000.

It also has the sixth-lowest income than any of the cities on the list, with a median income of $78,263. Also, of note, the township is home to several age-restricted communities.

Shopping in downtown Westfield.(Photo: ~File photo)

15. Westfield

A new addition to the list this year, Westfield, a Union County town known for its downtown filled with shops and restaurants, as well as abundance of million-dollar homes, came in at No. 15, with a violent crime rate of .099 per 1,000 and property crime rate of 8.449 per 1,000.

With a population of 30,301, the median income for a household in Westfield is a whopping $159,923, the ninth-highest on the list.

Fare from A Toute Heure, a popular downtown Cranford restaurant.(Photo: ~Courtesy of A Toute Heure)

21. Cranford

With a local-friendly downtown and an under-the-radar restaurant scene, Union County's Cranford was ranked the 21st safest city, with a violent crime rate of .123 per 1,000 and a property crime rate of 7.160 per 1,000.

A population of 24,442 and a median income of $122,848 also define Cranford, which was named the best downtown in New Jersey in 2018 by NJ.com, which called it "adorable and snow globe-like."

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Readington is the home of the QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, which is the largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America.(Photo: Bob Karp/Staff Photographer)

22. Readington

Small-town Readington, which has a population of 15,834, making it the sixth-least populated municipality on the list, came in at No. 22, with a violent crime rate of .126 per 1,000 and property crime rate of 5.052 per 1,000.

Like many other municipalities on the list, Readington’s appearance doesn't come without serious cash flow. The median income of a household here is $133,320. The township covers 48 square miles, which is 11 percent of all Hunterdon County. It's also the home of the QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, which is the largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America.

Other NJ towns that made the list:

8. Denville

9. Pequannock

10. Bergenfield

17. Hawthorne

20. Milford

24. Morris Township

26. Montville

28. Randolph

29. Washington Township (Morris)

33. Tinton Falls

34. Marlboro

40. Warren

47. Roxbury

49. Princeton

50. Dumont

51. Hillsborough

54. Raritan Township

56. Ridgewood

63. Madison

67. Manchester

69. Montgomery

80. Jefferson

89. Livingston

94. Mount Olive

96. Clark

Jenna Intersimone(Photo: ~File)

Staff Reporter Jenna Intersimone writes the weekly Central Jersey Go column, which appears Fridays in the Courier News and Home News Tribune and spotlights five weekly local destinations.

She also writes a weekly travel column and is a regular contributor to the weekly Table section. Tweet her at @JIntersimone or email her at JIntersimone@GannettNJ.com.

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